Chief of Naval Staff of India Admiral RK Dhowan made a courtesy call on President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban here on Tuesday.
During the meeting, the President said Bangladesh is the close neighbour and good friend of India and both the countries are enjoying excellent bilateral relations, President’s Press Secretary Joynal Abedin told BSS.
The relations of the two countries are getting accelerated through the exchange of high-level visits, President Hamid added.
The President underscored the need for expansion of water transport connectivity between the two countries.
Admiral Dhowan said South Asia and Indian Ocean region is very important for the world economy and if the potential of the region is exploited properly, the economic development of the region will be intensified further.
Earlier, Ambassador-designate of Bangladesh to Japan Rabab Fatima made a courtesy call on President Hamid at Bangabhaban.
During the meeting, the President congratulated Rabab Fatima on her appointment as the first female ambassador to Japan from Bangladesh and hoped that her assignment will help further boost the existing friendly relations between the two countries.
Japan is the important partner of Bangladesh’s economic development, the President said and asked the ambassador to take steps to encourage Japanese investors for setting up special economic zone in Bangladesh for fresh investment and relocation of their industries.
Mentioning that a huge construction work is taking place in Japan ahead of 2020 Olympic and Paralympics, Abdul Hamid asked the envoy to take steps so that Japan can take labourers from Bangladesh for the construction work.
Secretaries concerned to the President were present.